Sad Cat Studios is in the home stretch. The studio is finally ready to release its long-running cyberpunk action game, REPLACED. This side-scrolling project promises more than just another pixelated story, but something more: a deep plot about the place of artificial intelligence among humans and a visual style that’s hard to confuse with anything else.
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Pixel graphics and 3D in one game: how it works in REPLACED
The first thing you notice is the art. The characters, small details, and some of the environments are drawn in the spirit of good old pixel games like The Red Strings Club or Gods Will Be Watching. But the background and many three-dimensional surfaces are fully 3D. The trailers and demo demonstrate how skillfully the artists have managed to combine these two approaches. The result is truly unique.
And this isn’t just a “pretty action game.” Don’t be fooled by its appearance—REPLACED is actually an action-packed beat ’em up. Here you’ll find combos, finishing moves, and spectacular moves that in other games are usually reserved for cutscenes. The developers themselves admit: the combat system was designed with the Batman: Arkham series in mind. And yes, it shows.
REPLACED’s Plot and Combat System: Everything You Need to Know Before the Game’s Release
Artificial intelligence in a human body—it sounds crazy, but Sad Cat Studios has created just such a story. REPLACED’s protagonist is an AI that, by a strange coincidence, was uploaded into a living person. The logic and cold calculation remain, but a touch of humanity has been added. Now this symbiosis must survive in a closed cyberpunk metropolis, unravel a tangled web of conspiracies, and figure out what’s going on here.
REPLACED’s Combat System: Batman Arkham-Style Combos and Finishing Moves
The combat in REPLACED is a whirlwind. The hero is capable of taking down an entire army of opponents, and the finishing moves look like they were staged for a trailer. Fans of the one-versus-all genre will definitely love this.
At the same time, the creators haven’t forgotten about the story either. The dialogue and characters are meticulously written—the legacy of pixel adventures is still intact. So if you enjoy both talking and punching people, this is the project for you.
REPLACED System Requirements
The studio hasn’t yet released recommended system requirements, but they do have some rough specs. Looking at the numbers, even on the lowest settings, the game will deliver a stable 60+ FPS. This means there’s a good chance REPLACED will run on more modest configurations. We’ll see what happens when it launches.
REPLACED Release Date: PC, Xbox, and Steam Deck Support
The release is scheduled for April 14th at 10:00 AM New-York. The game will be available on PC, as well as on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Important: the developers haven’t announced a PlayStation version yet. However, PC does support PS5 gamepads—this works seamlessly through Steam. Incidentally, the game is fully compatible with Steam Deck, which means it’s also compatible with Linux. How convenient.
Interestingly, the game itself is fully compatible with Steam Deck, which means it’s compatible with Linux. How convenient.
REPLACED Price and Pre-Order: Cost, Editions, and Game Pass
Pre-orders will be available right before the release—April 14th—without Early Access or other “golden” windows. You can click the “Buy” button on both the Steam and Xbox pages almost at the last minute.
The basic Standard Edition will cost $19.99 or €20.
Publisher Thunderful Publishing is keeping mum on Deluxe or Collector’s Editions for now. All eyes are on digital.
Availability:
Edition Details
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REPLACED will be included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one.
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The demo, by the way, has already been downloaded 185,000 times. You can check for yourself if your hardware meets the minimum requirements.
Bottom line: if you don’t want to pay, get Game Pass. If you want to own it, wait until April 14th and get your money ready. The demo is already available—a great way to see if it’s worth it.
